Centrifugal pump.



PATENTED MAR. 29. 1904, G. MoKAY-n W. 0.` HILDRBTH.

GENTRIFUGAL PUMP. No DEL APPLICATION FILED nn. sa. 1901. 2 SEETFBHET 1 MIIIIM PATBNTBD 11,111.29. 1904.

E T M. Dm EU HD.. .L .WN ...MM YT AN .KE UC M am APPLIOATION FILED MAB. 2s, 1901.

` 2 Simms-lenga' 2.

. H0 IODEL.

No.755,69o.

UNITED l STATES Patented March 29, 1904. 1

PATENT OEEICEo GORDON MCKAY, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, ND WILLIAM O. HIL- DRETH, OF LAI/VRENOE, MASSACHUSETTS. l

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '7 55,690, dated March 29, '1904.

Application led March 25, 1901.

To a/Z Lil/1,0m, it motyconcern:

Be it known that we, GORDON MGKAY, residing at Newport, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island, and WILLIAM O. HILDRETH, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and Stateof Massachusetts, citizens Y of the United States., have invented an Improvement in Centrifugal Pumps, of which the following description, in connection with l the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts. y

This invention relates to centrifugal pumps; and it has for its object the production of a novel pump of this type which has a largely increased eflciency over centrifugal pumps as ordinarily constructed.

The invention comprises a suitable casing having a suitable inlet and the usual outlet, in which casing a rotary runner having a series of impelling-blades of peculiar design is mounted, combined with means between the runner and the inlet which is adapted to giveto the fluid as it is delivered to the runner a motion approximately tangential with relation to the direction of vmovement of the impelling-blades, so that the iuid as itis encountered bythe said blades is moving in approximately the samedirection and at approximately the same velocity as the said impellingblades.4k Preferably the said impelling-blades will have the receiving portion of their faces slightly inclined to a radial line, whereby theradial movement of the iiuid relative to the said impelling-blades is parallel to said receiving portions of the faces of said blades. The impelling-blades, therefore, as they en-` counter the fluid do not operate to abruptly;

change the direction of movement'of said fluid, which would cause a churning action thereof; but their full energy is expended in giving angular velocity to the iiuid.

The guiding means we employ are preferably in the nature of guiding-disks which are fixedly secured tothe casing between the inlet and the runner, and said guiding-disks are each provided with a series of guiding-blades, forming between them passages which extendV through the said disks, the saidguiding-blades Serial No. 52,688. (No model.)

having their delivery ends extending in a direction approximately tangential to the direction of movement of the inner or receiving ends of the impelling-blades. 1

' With a pump having the features above mentioned the water in passing from the inletto the outlet of the pump is subjected to no abrupt change of direction, but is gradually given its required velocity Without any churning action.l

Preferably the pump will have two inlets, one at either side of vthe runner, and a stationary guiding-disk will be situated each side of the runner, between the same and the inlet, the said inlets operating to deliver the fluidto the guiding-disks in an axial direction and the guidingdisks operating to gradually change this axial movement of the fluid to an approximately tangential movement, as stated above. y Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a section on the line w Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a section'on the line zz/ fr', Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the runner. Fig. 4' is a section on the line y g/,Fig 3. Fig. 5 is a detail showing a side elevation of the guide. Fig. 6 is a section on the line .a a, Fig.` 5.

The casing of thepump is constructed with a suitable inlet to deliver the water or other material to the runner, hereinafter described, there being two such inlets 3 andiinthe em- 80 bodiment Yof our invention illustrated, said inlets being curved attheir inner ends, so as to f deliver the Huid axially to the pump` and the said casing supports in any suitable bearingsthe shaft 5, upon which is mounted the driving-pulley 6 and the usual runner 7, which is of peculiar construction and will be more fully described hereinafter. The casing also comprises the inner portion 8, preferably made in two parts, as shown in Fig. 2, which are bolted together by means of usual bolts" 9, the said inner portion 8 of the casing surrounding the pump proper and being constructed with the annular chamber l0 of progressivelyincreased diameter from the point 11 to the 95 throat of the outlet l2, the iiuid or other material as it is operated on by the pump accumulatingA in said chamber l() and traveling therein in the direction of the arrow, Fig.l1, to the outlet 12, as usual in this class of devices. The runner, which is designated generally by 7, is fast on the shaft 5 and rotates therewith, the said runner being provided with a series of impelling-blades 16, which operate on the Huid and give to the same a tangential motion, as usual with pumps of this class. The novel features of the runner will be hereinafter described.

Inasmuch as when the pump is in operation the water or other fluid emerges from the inlets3 and4in an axial direction and without any rotary motion and the impellingblades 16 on the runner are at any given instant moving rapidly in a tangential direction and in a plane at right angles to the direction of movement of the column of water or other material, it will be obvious that ifv the water' were delivered from the inlets directly to the runner-blades 16 the impact of said blades against the axially-moving column of water would cause a churning action of the water and a consequent loss of energy, suchA churning action ofV the water being due to the abrupt change in the direction of movement of the moving particles of water from an axial to a rotary direction. It is one of the objects of our invention to avoid this churning action of the water due to the impact of the runnerblades against the same and to thus utilize the energy Wasted by such action, and this is accomplished by providing between the inlets 3 and 4 and the runner suitable means for gradually changing the direction of movement of the water from axial to approximately tangential, so that as the water, comes into the position to be operated on by the runnerblades it has an approximately tangential motion and its velocity is nearly equal to that of the runner-blades. The runner blades therefore receive the water which has previously been given a motion in the same direction as' that of the said blades and impress upon said water their velocity, so that as the water leaves the tips of the blades it is moving in a circular-direction in the annular cham- 'ber 10 of the casing and at the same angular velocity as the tips of said runner-blades, the said water passing out through the throatV of the outlet 12, as usual. The direction of the water as it comes from the inlets is therefore gradually changed from axial to circular, and there is no sudden impact of the runner-blades on the water to cause a churning action. As a result any loss of energy which would be caused by such churning action is utilized in giving velocity to the water, thus increasing the efficiency of the pump.

As a suitable means for gradually changing the direction of the water as it enters the pump from axial to circular we preferably use suitable guiding-disks,designated generally by 20,

the said disks preferably being stationary and being situated either side of the runner.

Each guide or guiding disk has a series of diagonal passages therethrough, the said passages being separated by partitions which form guiding-blades, and the said guidingblades being of such shape that as the axiallymoving body of water enters the inlet end of said passages the direction of motion of said water is gradually changed from axial .to approximately tangential, so that as the water emerges from the outlet end of the said passages and enters the runner it is moving in substantially the same direction as the runnerblades.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen that each guide. or guiding-disk is provided with the peripheral flange 21, which is secured between the two parts of the casing by suitable bolts, (see Fig. 1,)which hold the said guidein place. Each guiding-disk also has the inner curved solid face 22, having the central aperture 75 therethrough, through which passes the shaft 5 and' the outer face or rim portion 23, the faces 22 and' 23 being connected by a series of ribs 24, which form guidingblades, the said ribs or guiding-blades being so shaped as to divert the moving column of water from its axial motion to an approximately tangential motion. One shape of guiding-blades capable of this function is shown in Fig. 5, wherein the said blades or ribs are curved, the inner ends 90 thereof being radial and the outer ends 91' approaching a tangential direction, this form of guiding-blades forming, with the innel` curved face 22, diagonal passages 25 through the guiding-disks 20, the said passages terminating at the outlet end on the periphery of the guiding-disk between the outer edge of face 22 and the rim or face 23, as at 26, the said outlet endv of the said passages having an approximately tangential direction and terminating at the inlet end on IOO the outer face of the said disk in the curvedA radial openings seen at 25 in Fig. 5. r[he water or other material' enters the openings 25' from the inlets 3 and 4 in an axial' direction, and as it passes through the guiding-disk it is deflected by the guiding-blades and face 22, so that as it emerges from the end 26 of the said passages 25 it is moving in anV approximately tangential direction, and it enters the runner without any abrupt change of direction.

The impelling-blades 16 of the runner fare shown as being carried on the periphery of the web or in 14, which has the hub 13 fast on the shaft 5, and as in this embodiment of our invention there are two inlets 3 and 4 on opposite sides of the runner the said impelling-blades extend equal distances each side of said web 14, so that the Water coming from both sides will encounter said l impellingblades. Preferably the outer edges of said IIO ISO

between them a series of passages through the runner, which are shown assubstantially radial, the inner or inlet end of said passagesbeing divided by the V-shaped 'periphery 17 of-the web or fin 14. The housings 15 of the runner are so shaped as to leave a slight clearance-space '93 between the runner and `casing in order to prevent any friction and to permit of the said runner rotating freely. It will be understood, of course, that the angle of the 'inner or receiving edge 97 of the runner or impelling blades 16 with reference to 4the axis of rotation is the same as the angle of the outer or delivery vedge 91 of theguiding-blades 24:, so that the inner or receiving edges 97 of the runner or impellingblades are parallel with the outer or delivery edges VV91 of the guiding-blades, and the runner and gu-iding disks are so positioned that lthe outlet end '-126 -of thejpassages throughjthe guiding-disks registers with the inlet end 18 of the passages through vthe runner, (see Fig. 2,) there pref- 'erably being the same number -of impellingblades on the runner as there are guidingblades on Vthe guiding-disks.

It is not practical to construct the guidingdisks 24 so that the outlet end 26 of each passage 25 is exactly tangential, and asa result the particles 'of water as they leave the guiding-disks have a slight radial movement, such radial movement being necessary in order that the water may pass through the runner; but such radial component of the motion of the water should be as small as possible and yet allow the water to pass through the runner during its revolution, because the said radial movementof the water causes some friction on the impelling-face of the runner-blades and because the slower the radial movement of the water' the longer time the impellingblades 16 are operative to impress on the water their angular velocity, such radial component of the motion of the water being useless to move the water in a tangential direction and the energy in the water due to this radial motion being wasted in eddy-making when the water leaves the tips 99 of the runner-blades. Since, therefore, the water as it leaves the outer ends 91 of the guiding-blades 2li is moving in a direction at a slight langle to a tangent, it is necessary that the receiving portion 97 of the impelling-faces of the runnerblades be inclined somewhat, as shown, to stand approximately perpendicular to the tangential direction of movement of the water as it enters the inner ends 18'of the passages through the runner and parallel to the movement of the water in a radial direction relachange the direction of movement of the water,

, but will operate to impress 'upon the water their full angular velocity Without any churning action.

As the water passes radially through the runner, it is desirable that its angular velocity should increase 'in the saine ratio that the angular velocity of any point on the impellingfa'ces vof the runner-blades 16 increases as it approaches the tip 299 of the said blades',/so that Yas the water leaves the 'tips of the vrunner-blades it will have the same angular velocity as the periphery of the runner, and we therefore make the passages through the runner of auniform cross-sectional area-that is, the area of any passage is the same lat any radial distance from the axis of rotation-and we preferably make the blades 16 with slightlyconcave impe'lling-faces, as shown in Fig.

With a pump constructed as above described it will be seen 'that the movement ofthe water is gradually'changed from axial to tangential and that the water is delivered to the runner with a motion which is approximately vtangential and which is at right angles to the receiving portion of the impelling-faces of the runner-blades, so 'that the Water is given no abrupt change of direction and the maximum percentage of the energy expended is utilized in giving angular velocity to the water.

It will be understood, of course, that the space or chamber 10 outside the runner is of such a size that the quantity of water pumped will completely iill the space when the water is given the required velocity in order that there may be no yappreciable change in the angular velocity of the water as it leaves the tips ofthe runner-blades 16 and enters the chamber 10. To obviate loss by friction when the water is delivered from the pump, the outlet l2 is preferably tapered, as shown. Our invention therefore includes a pump having a rotary runner and means whereby the water is given an approximately tangential kmotion before it is delivered to the runner-blades, and as we believe we are the irst to accomplish this we desire to claim the same broadly.

Various changes may be made in the structureof the device without departing from the spirit of our invention. For instance, the angle that the edge 97 of the runner-blades makes with the axis of rotation may be varied, or the inlet-openings 25 in the guiding-disks may have various-shapes, or the outer endsor tips of the runner-blades might be bent backwardly slightly, or the housings or side pieces l'might be omitted.

It will be obvious that our devicemay be used in various ways, as for pumping water or other fluid or for dredging purposes, and by running the same at an increased speed'it may be used as a fan-blower.

- Having describedv our invention, what we1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl 1. In a centrifugal pump, a scroll-casing, a rotary runner therein, said runner having a series of impelling-blades, an inlet to saidcasing situatedin the axial line of said runner,

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and means to give the uid prior to its encountering said impelling-blades a motion approximately tangential to the direction of motion of said blades.

2. In a centrifugal pump, a scroll-casing@ rotary runner having a series of impellingblades forming between them radial passages, and means to give the fluid as it is delivered to said impelling-blades, a motion approximately tangential to the circle of movement of the said blades, said blades being inclined slightly at their receiving end whereby the radial movement of the fluid relative to the blades, as said Huid is encountered by the blades, is parallel to the receiving portion of the impelling-faces of said blades.

3. In a centrifugal pump, a scroll-casing, a rotary runner having al series of impellingblades, said casing having an inlet situated in the axial line of the runner, and means to give the fiuid prior to its delivery to the blades a movement in such a direction that the relative movement between the fluid and the blades is parallel to the receiving-faces of the blades.

4. In a centrifugal pump, a scroll-casing, a rotary runner inclosed thereby, said runner having a series of impelling-blades, combined with a series of stationary guiding-blades situated adjacent the receiving ends of the impelling-blades, said guiding-blades adapted to give the fluid as it leaves the same a motion in a direction approximately tangential to the circular movement of said impelling-blades.

5. In a centrifugal pump, a scroll-casing, a rotary runner therein, said runner having a series of impelling-blades, combined with a stationary guiding-disk having a series of guiding-blades, situated at the receiving side of the runner and adapted to give the iuid as it enters the runner a movement in a direction approximately tangential to the direction of movement of said impelling-blades.

6. In a centrifugal pump, a scroll-casing having an axial inlet and a tangential outlet, a rotary runner inclosed in said casing and having a series of impelling-blades, a stationary guiding-disk between said inlet and the runner, said guiding-disk having a series of guiding-blades which are inclined to the direction of movement of said impelling-blades, whereby as the fluid is delivered from said guiding-blades to the runner it is given a motion approximately tangential to the direction of movement of said impelling-blades.

7. Inacentrifugal pump, acasinghaving an inlet and an outlet, a runner inclosed in said casing, means to rotate the same, said runner having a series of impelling-blades, a stationary guiding-disk between the inlet and the runner, said guiding-disk having a series of guiding-blades forming between them passages through said guiding-disk, said guidingblades at their outer ends being approximately tangential to the direction of movement of said impelling-blades, whereby the fluid which is delivered to the runner has a motion in a direction approximately at a tangent to the direction of movement of said impelling-blades.

8. In a centrifugal pump, a scroll-casing having an inlet and an outlet, a runner having a series of impelling-blades mounted in said casing for rotation, means to rotate said runner, a series of guiding-blades between the inlet and the runner, saidguiding-blades having their delivery ends inclined to the direc- -tion of motion of the said impelling-blades,

and the receiving-faces of said impellingblades being inclined in a radial line, whereby the fluid which is delivered to the runner has an approximately tangential motion, and the radial movement of said iuid relative to the impelling-blades is parallel to the receiving portion of the faces thereof.

9. In a centrifugal pump, a scroll-casing having an inlet and an outlet, a runner having a series of impelling-blades mounted in said casing for rotation, a stationary guiding-disk between said inlet and runner, said guidingdisk having a series of guiding-blades forming between -them a series of passages through said disk, said guiding-blades at their delivery ends having a direction approximately tangential to the direction of movement of said impelling-blades, and the receiving portion of the faces of said `impelling-blades being inclined to a radial line, whereby the Huid which is delivered to said runner has a direction in an approximately tangential direction, and the radial movement of said iiuid relative to the impelling-blades is parallel to the receiving portion of the face thereof.

10. In a centrifugal pump, arotary runner, a casing inclosing said runner and having an inlet situated in the line of the axis of the runner, said runner having a series of impelling-blades forming between them a series of approximately radial passages, each of said passages being of uniform cross-sectional area throughout its length, and means to give the water as it is delivered to said runner a motion in a direction approximately tangential to the motion of the impelling-blades.

11. In a centrifugal pump, acasing having i an inlet and an outlet, a rotary runner inclosed therein, said runner having a series of impelling-blades forming between them a series of approximately radial passages through the runner, said passages each being of a uniform cross sectional area throughout its length, and a series of stationary guidingblades situated between the inlet and the runner, said blades having their delivery ends extending in a direction nearly tangential to the direction of movement of the impellingblades, whereby the fluid which is delivered to said runner has a movement in a direction approximately tangential to the direction of movement of the impelling-blades.

l2. In a centrifugal pump, a casing having an inlet andan outlet, a rotary runner inclosed therein, said runner having a series of impelling-blades forming between them a series of approximately radial passages through therunner, said passages each being of a uniform -erosssectional area throughout its length, and a stationary guiding-disk between the inlet and the runner, said guiding-'disk having a series of guiding-blades forming between them a series ofrpassages through said disk, the delivery ends of said vguiding-blades having a direction approximately tangential. to the direction of movement of the said impelling-blades, and the receiving portion of the face of said impelling-blades being inclined to a radial line whereby the Huid is delivered to the runner with a direction of motion approXimately tangential to the movement of the impelling-blades, the radial movement of said fluid relative to the impelling-blades being parallel to the receiving portion of the face thereof. i

13. In a centrifugal pump, a casing, a rotary runner inclosed in said casing, Isaid runposed inlets in line with the axis of rotation of said runner, a stationary guiding-disk between each inlet and the runner, said disks each having a series of guiding-blades adapted to give the Huid a motion approximately tangential to the direction of movement of the impelling-blades.

In testimony whereof we have each signed our names to this specification in the presence ofV two subscribing witnesses.

GORDON MCKAY.. WILLIAM O. HILDRETH.

Witnesses to the signature of Gordon Mc- Kay: i

S. P. MILLS,

E. G. GRoB.

Witnesses to the signature of W. O. Hil- 4 dreth:

LoUIs C. SMITH, GEO. H. MAXWELL. 

